Apparatus for continuously reeling strand material



Feb. 14, 1961 B. c. ELLIS, JR

APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY REELING STRAND MATERIAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR B. C. ELL/S,JR. BY 0.1;. Mk

ATTORNEY Filed May 3, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 B. C. ELLIS, JR

ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY REELING STRAND MATERIAL Feb. 14, 1961 Filed May 3, 1957 TI 0 QW gm 2,971,709 APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY REELING STRAND MATERIAL Filed May 3, 1957 Feb, 14, 1961 B. c. ELLIS, JR

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR a. c. EL us, JR.

7 4 TTOR/VEV 5209 E ma -68 53mm x000 m 1 BYOQ 1 v IOCSm 0x330 umm United States Patent APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY REELING STRAND MATERIAL Benjamin C. Ellis, Jr., Baltimore, Md., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 3, 1957, Ser. No. 656,956

13 Claims. Cl. 242-45 This invention relates to a strand reeling apparatus, and more particularly to means for controlling a continuously running reeling or takeup apparatus for continuously winding strand material on successive reels under desired tension and linear speed which continues uninterruptedly as the strand material is being transferred from a full reel to an empty reel.

It is Well recognized that continuousiy winding apparatus is not new, per se, as disclosed in the L. P. Hauck et al. Patent 2,779,545 of which the present apparatus are modifications.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to permit continuous reeling of a strand at substantially constant speed and without imposing injurious stresses or changes of stress upon the strand.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical control system for a continuously running takeup apparatus for strand material being delivered to the takeup apparatus from a previous manufacturing operation at a speed determined by the speed at which the strand is being fed through the previous operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a single motor to operate the reels of a takeup apparatus, during the transfer period, in a proper speed relation to each other for permitting transfer of the strand material from a full reel to an empty reel under optimum conditions.

Afurther object of the present invention is the improvement of reeling apparatus which are provided with means for automatically transferring a strand from a takeup reel, which has become filled, to an empty takeup reel without stopping the reeling apparatus.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide means for controlling reeling apparatus whereby the reeling apparatus can be operated with greater speed and better efficiency.

Strand reeling apparatus for taking up a continuously advancing strand upon rotatably driven takeup reels alternately, which illustrate certain features of this invention, may include a plurality of reels operated by a single motor by means of a clutch associated with each reel, a counter system, means controlled by said counter systern for operating the clutches in a predetermined sequence wherein the clutch associated with the partially filled reel is disengaged and the clutch associated with the empty reel is engaged prior to the cutover from the full reel to the empty reel, accumulating means for preventing slack from forming in the strand which controls the speed of the empty reel during the cutover cycle, and braking means associated with each of the reels to brake the full reel during the cutover cycle to provide slack in the strand for the cutover.

Other objects and features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmental side elevation of a takeup apparatus embodying the invention; a

Fig. 2 is a fragmental top plan view of a portion of the takeup apparatus as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental top plan View illustrating the distributing mechanism of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a portion of the electrical control circuit, and

Pig. 5 is a schematic diagram of another portion of the electrical control circuit.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals, designate the same or similar elements throughout the several views, the takeup apparatus, as shown on Figs. 1, 2 and 3, comprises a flat rigid support member 10 located centrally between a right reel 11 and a left reel 12, which reels 11 and 12 are positioned side-by-side and are axially aligned, but could be positioned otherwise. The reels 11 and 12 are urged toward the support member 10 by hydraulic pistons 13 and 14, respectively, which are secured to a rigid inverted U-shaped frame 16 on opposing sides thereof, through the use of pins or the live centers 17 and 18, respectively, of tail stocks 19 and 21, respectively, actuated by said pistons 13 and 14, respectively, and urged against conventional snagger members 25 or 26 rotatably secured to said rigid support member 10. The reels 11 and 12 are secured rigidly to the associated snagger members 25 and 26, respectively, for rotation therewith by means of an axial projection or live center of head stocks (not shown) and eccentrically mounted projections (not shown). The axial projections or centers of the head stocks are utilized to cooperate with the pins or centers 17 and 18 of the tail stocks 1S and 21 to support opposite sides of the reels 11 and 12, respectively, and the eccentrically positioned pins project into eccentrically positioned apertures (not shown) in reels 11 and 12 and are used for transmitting torque to the reels 11 and 12 from snagger members 25 and 26.

The snagger members 25 and 26 cooperate for gripping portions of a strand 31 adjacent to each reel 11 and 12 when the strand is transferred from one reel to the other. Each of the reels are driven by positive drive means, designated generally by the numeral 32, comprising a pulley 33 rotatably secured to the rigid support 10, a timing belt 34 connected operatively to the pulley 33, a pulley 36 secured to a cantilever-type shaft 37 supported in an elongated bearing 38 which is mounted on by the numeral 53, including an electric motor 54,

through a timing belt 56. Each of the belts 3434, 43-43 and 56 are tightened by belt tighteners 57, 58 and 59, respectively. Brake means 64 and 65 are operatively connected to the drive means 32 associated with the right reel 11 and left reel 12, respectively.

The brakes 64 and 65 are utilized to stop the motion of the full reel 11 and 12, respectively, to create slack in the strand 31 which will permit cutover from one reel to the other without placing excessive stresses on the strand 31, as will be explained further below, and also to prevent damage to the insulated strand 31 exposed at that time. If the reels 11 or 12 are not stopped, the loose end of strand 31 connected to the snaggers 25 or 26 will fail in tension resulting from the extremely high centrifugal force caused by the high velocity of the reel 11 or 12 and will be thrown from the reel at extremely high velocities. The pieces of the strand 31 which are thrown from the reel 11 or 12 damage equipment, injure operat- Patented Feb. 14, 1961.

ing personnel and ricochet back to the insulated conductor 31 on the reels 11 or 12 to damage them.

A distributor member, designated generally by the numeral 61, is supported by the rigid frame 16.above the axially aligned reels 11 and 12,'and is utilized for distributing the strand '31 on either of the two reels 11 or 12. The distributor 61 comprises. an elongated cylindrical member 62 which slidably supports the distributor 61 on a rod 60 for reciprocating movement axially of the reels 11 and 12. The distributor 61'is propelled by a hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly 63 and has a plurality of cam members 66 and 67 secured adjacent one end of the rod 68 of the piston (not shown) of the piston-cylinder assembly 63 for sequentially actuating a plurality of switches 71 to 76, inclusive, which are'adjustably positioned on a threaded shaft 7 8 by nuts 7 9-79. The opposite end of the piston rod 68 is used to actuate a switch 80 when the distributor 61 is indexed to distribute the strand 31 onto the right reel 11.

The strand 31 is drawn by a capstan, designated generally by the numeral 81 and actuated by a motor 35, through a high speed extruder or other manufacturing apparatus (not shown), through a cooling trough 83, past an automatic counter system 84, and is supplied to the takeup apparatus by being guided by a plurality of sheaves 86, 87 and 83 through an accumulator, designated generally by the numeral 91 and having a plurality of dancer sheaves 9292 and a plurality. of stationary sheaves 93-93, and toward the distributing apparatus 61. The strand 31 is then guided under a sheave 94, to a sheave 95, secured to the distributor 61, and through a slot 96 formed by a pair of elongated pins 97 and 98 depending from the distributor 61 and reciprocating back and forth therewith to distribute the strand 31 on either the right reel 11 or the left reel 12. The pins 97 and 98 are utilized to guide the strand 31 to the other reel 11 or 12 during the cutover operation, when the distributor 61 is indexed from a full reel to an empty reel when a desired predetermined amount of strand 31 has been placed on the reel 11 or 12 which is being filled.

The capstan 81 will, under normal circumstances, supply the strand 31 to the takeup apparatus at a uniform speed, but if for some reason the speed of the capstan 81 is varied the motor 54 may be varied a corresponding amount by means of a conventional tachometer genera.- tor (not shown). a

A knife 99 is secured to the support memberlfl and in front of it. The knife 99 serves to cut the portion of the strand 3.; extending between the snaggers 25 and 26 as the reels 11 and 12 are rotated in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, during the time of cutover of the strand 31 from one reel to the other.

A sliding door 1&1 is positioned in front of the reels 11 and 12 and is suspended on an inverted, U-shaped member 102 by a rod 193 extending across the U-shaped member 102. The door 101 is guided in araceway 194 and actuates switches 11% and 107 connected to the control circuit as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, when the door 101 is moved from one side to the other. The door 101 also serves as a safety device to protect the operating personnel from the pieces of the strand 31 thrown from the revolving reels 11 and 12 and snaggers 25 and 26 (if not properly stopped), and is reciprocable to permit insertion and removal of the reels 11 and 12 into and from the reeling apparatus.

A warning light 1133 and a plurality of push buttons 111 to 114, inclusive, are supported on the frame 16. The push button 111 is utilized to start the empty reel 11 or 12 in preparation for a manual cutover or one which is not controlled by the automatic counter system 84. The push button 112 is utilized to index the distributor 61 from the full reel to the empty reel and thus cause a cutover manually. The push button 113 is used to de-energize the warning light 168 at such time as the operating personnel removes a full red from the apps.-

4 ratus and inserts an empty reel therein in for a subsequent cutover operation. 114 is used to disconnect all electrical power from the machine in case of an emergency.

The dancing sheaves 9292 are operatively connected to a rheostat 116 by a plurality of flexible chains 117 and 118. The rheostat 116 in turn'controls the speed of the motor 54 of the power supply means 53 by varying the strength of the field therein. The opposite ends of the chain 117 are connected to a block 119 which supports the sheaves 9292. The chain117 is supported by an accumulator tower 121 by rotatable sprockets 122 preparation and 123 secured thereto at the top and base of the tower 121, respectively. The rheostat 116 is actuated by the chain 118 which is connected between a sprocket 124 and a sprocket 126 which in turn is rotatably secured to a shaft 125. The sprocket 122 is secured to and rotated by the shaft 125 as the sheaves 9292 are moved up and down as a result of the variation in the length of.

the portion of the strand 31 between the capstan 81 and the reel 11 or 12.

For the purpose of clarity, it will be assumed that the distributor 61 is directing the strand 31 onto the right reel 11. The right reel 11 is being filled with a certain predetermined length of strand 31, as determined by the automatic counter system 84, which is actuated by the strand 31 being fed to the reel 11. The automatic counter system 84 causes the clutch 52 associated with the left or empty reel 12 to be actuated at a predetermined time,

thereby driving the empty reel 12 and the partially filled reel .11 at the same speed until the clutch 51 associated with the partially filled reel .11 is disengaged under the control of another portion of the counter 84 at a subsequent predetermined time.

The substantially filled reel 11, after it has been disengaged from the drive motor 54, will continue to rotate due to the momentum of the reel 11 and strand 31 wound thereon. But the reel 11 will slow down, as a result of the windage and various frictional forces associated therewith, causing the strand 31, which is being fed to the reel 11 at a constant speed by the capstan 81, to tend to become slack, thus causing the dancer sheaves 9292 to move downwardly to prevent slack from forming in the strand 31 which, in turn, operates the rheostat 116 to speed up the motor 54 driving the reel which, in this case, is the empty reel 12.

When the dancer sheaves 92-92 have dropped to a predetermined position, the rheostat 116 will have changed a suflicient amount to cause the drum speed of the empty reel 12 to approach the constant speed at which the strand 31 is being pulled through the extruder by the capstan 81 and fed to the reel 11. The speed of the reel 12 is approximately 80% of the linear speed of the strand 31 being fed to the reel 11 by the capstan 81 or any other desired speed depending on the position of the limit switch 127. At this time an automatic cutover takes place as a result of the dancer sheaves 92-92 operating the switch 127 which is adjustably positioned on the accumulator tower 121 to cause the distributor 61 to index the insulated strand 31 from the full reel 11 to contact the snagger 25 associated with the full reel 11 and to contact the snagger 26 associated with the empty reel 12 and thus cause a cutover. The strand 31 will be severed by the knife 99 as the reels 11 and12 rotate with the strand extending between the snaggers 25 and 26.

It is desirable to have a predetermined length of strand 31 on each full reel. This length is controlled by the counter 84 which starts the cutover operation. The counter 84 is automatically reset at the time a partially filled reel is disconnected from the drive motor 54, and a portion of the insulated strand 31, measured by the counter 84 after it has been reset, will be fed onto the partially filled reel. The amount of strand 31 which will be fed onto the partially filled reel after the cutover cycle starts will depend on'the length of the cut- The push button over cycle. This amount has been previously predetermined and for all practical purposes thetime involved and thus the amount of insulated strand 31 fed onto the partially filled reel after the initiation of the cutover cycle will be constant. The only variation will result from any change in the frictional forces and windage associated with the partially filled reel;

It is necessary to have slack in the insulated strand 31 to permit the strand 31 to be moved from the full reel 11 in the direction of the empty reel 12 to permit the snagger 26 on the empty reel to catch the strand 31 and thus complete the cutover. A portion of this slack is obtained as a result of the application of the brake 64 to the full reel 11 at the time when the distributor 61, moving the strand 31 from the right reel 11 to the left reel 12, is equidistant between the two reels 11 and 12. Additional slack is obtained as a result of the geometric path of the strand 31 during the cutover operation, at a time after the strand 31 has been caught by a snagger 25 on the full reel 11 and prior to the time it has been caught by a snagger 26 on the empty reel 12, since the strand 31 at that time is not being fed on the outer periphery of the reel 12 but is allowed to move between the reels 11 and 12 toward the longitudinal axes of the reels 11 and 12.

In the cutover portion of the operation of previous reeling apparatus, the full reel and empty reel were operated at the same peripheral speed at the time of the cutover and thus no braking of the full reel'was utilized to obtain slack in the strand 31 necessary for the cutover. The apparatus of the present invention prevents a generation of an excessive amount of slack, which permits the use of a relatively slow acting gravity weighted accumulator 91. This eliminates the necessity of a quickacting, spring-loaded accumulator 91 and permits the accumulator to be actuated with less power than was previously necessary.

Operation The operation of the apparatus is as follows. Assuming that the right reel 11 is being filled with insulated strand 31 from the extruder, the length of the strand 31 thereon is determined by the counter 84. It will be assumed that a conventional 110 volt, 60 cycle A.C. supply is connected to leads 89 and 90 on opposing sides of the control circuit as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. It must be assumed that the guard door 101 is in the central position or to the right since the clutch 51 associated with the right reel 11 cannot be actuated if a normally closed right reel guard switch 106 is actuated which would deenergize a left door relay 130 to open a left door relay contact 132 associated with the right reel clutch 51 and close a contact 109 associated with the right brake 64.

The clutch 52 associated with the left reel 12 cannot be actuated if a normally closed left reel guard switch 107 is actuated which would deenergize a right door relay 131 to open a right door relay contact 133 associated with the left clutch 52 and close a contact 110 associated with the left brake 65. The limit switch 80 was closed by the initial indexing of the distributor 61 to the right reel 11 which caused a relay 135 to be energized which in turn closes contacts 146 and 170 and opens contacts 136 and 150. The closing of the contact 146 resulted in the energization of a relay 147 which in turn closed a contact 148 to energize the right reel clutch 51, since the left door relay contact 132 was closed at that time since the guard door 101 was assumed to be in the center position or to the right. When the relay 147 was energized it opened a contact 152 and opened a contact 151, associated with the right reel brake 64, and closed a contact 153 to lock the relay 147 in the energized position at this time.

The movement of the distributor 61 from right to left and left to right to distribute the strand 31 on the right tool '11 will actuate the limit switch 75. -However,- the actuation of the switch 75 will have no effect on the circuit or a solenoid 138 since a relay 139 is not energized at that time. When the distributor 61 hits the limit switch 76 it will energize a solenoid 142 to actuate a valve to direct fluid to the cylinder 63 associated with the distributor 61 to move the same to the left. The valve 140 is locked in one position or the other until actuated by another solenoid. The distributor 61 actuates the limit switch 74 which in turn actuates a solenoid to actuate the valve 140 which directs fluid to the cylinder 63 associated with the distributor 61 to move the distributor 61 to the right which sequence is repeated until the indexing operation takes place.

The cutover cycle is automatically commenced by the counter 84 when a predetermined length of the strand 31 is wound upon the right reel 11, which in this particular case is 1000 feet less than a final desired amount. The counter 84 closes a contact 154 which causes a relay 155 to be energized which closes contacts 156, 157 and 158 associated therewith. The closure of the contact 156 will hold the relay 155 energized. The closure of the contact 158 associated with the relay 155 will cause a relay 159 to be energized. When the relay 159 is energized, it will open contacts 160 and 161 and close contacts 162 and 163. The door 101 was placed in the center position after the removal of the full reel 12 and replacement by an empty reel 12, since both of the clutches 51 and 52 cannot be energized unless the door 101 is in the center position. The closure of the contact 162 will cause the clutch 52 associated with the left reel 12 to be energized since it must be assumed that the guard door 101 is positioned in a center position and in turn the contact 133 was closed and the contact 110 is open. Then at this time, both the right reel 11 and the left reel 12 will be driven by the motor 54 through the respective clutches 51 and 52.

At a later predetermined time the counter 84 closes a contact 164 which causes a relay 165 to be energized which will close a contact 166 to hold the relay 165 energized and open contacts 167 and 168. The opening of the contact 167 will cause the relay 147 to be deenergized which in turn will operate the contacts 148, 151, 152 and 153 associated therewith. The contact 148 will open to deenergize the magnetic clutch 51 associated with the right reel 11. This causes the right reel 11 to drift resulting in a surplus of the strand 31 which will be taken up by the accumulator 91 through the movement of the dancer sheaves 92-92. When the sheaves 9292 on the accumulator 91 reach a predetermined position, they will actuate the limit switch 127 which will cause relays 171 and 172 to be energized.

Energization of the relay 171 will close a contact 173 to hold the relays 171 and 172 energized. The energization of the relay 172 will open a contact 169. The closure of a contact 174 by the relay 171 will energize a red light 108 in a warning circuit to notify the operator that the cutover is about to take place or has taken place and also energizes a relay 175 to close a. contact 176 asso ciated therewith to hold the relay 175 energized until such time as a reset contact 177 is opened by the operator by pushing the push button 113 when he replaces a full reel 11 with an empty reel 11. The closure of a contact 178 will cause a solenoid 186 to be energized and cause a relay 179 to be energized which in turn will open con tacts 180, 181 and 182 and close contacts 183, 184 and 185. The opening of the contact 182 will deenergize a portion of the circuit and deenergize the relays 165, 171 and 172. The energization of the solenoid 186 actuated a rapid-transfer, spring-centered valve 187 which directs fluid to the cylinder 63 associated with the distributor 61 to index the distributor 61 to the left reel 12. The closure of the contact 183 will hold the relay 179 and the solenoid 186 energized. The closure of the contact 184 will hold the solenoid 145 energized. The closure of the contact energizes a timingrelay 189 which closes a,

contact 190 to energize the brake 64 associated with the right reel 11 after a predetermined time when the contact 136 is closed subsequently when the switch "86 is actuated by the'mo'vement of the distributor 61 todeenergize the relay 135. This is possible because the contact 151 was closed when the relay 147 was previously deenergized. When the distributor 61 has moved to a position at the midpoint between the right reel 11 and the left reel 12, the limit switch 80 is actuated to deenergize the relay 135 and energize a relay 191. When the relay 135 is deenergized, the contacts 146 and 17! associated therewith are opened and the contacts 136 and are closed. When the relay 191 is energized, contacts 192 and 193associated therewith are closed and contacts 194 and 195 are opened.

As the distributor 61 was moved to the left, the limit switches 74 and 73 were actuated but have no effect on the circuit since the solenoid 145 was energized by the closure of the contact 184.

When the distributor 61 has moved to the left to strike the limit switch 72, relay 179 is deenergized and at the same time solenoid 186 is deenergized which in turn stops the indexing of the distributor 61 to the left by stopping the flow of fluid through the valve 187 to the cylinder 63. The distributor 61 is directed to the right by the fluid being directed to the cylinder 63 from the valve 146 which was actuated by the solenoid 145 when the solenoid 145 was energized by the closure of the contact 184. When the distributor 61 has moved to the right to strike the limit switch 73, the solenoid 142 is energized to actuate the valve 146 to direct fluid to the cylinder 63 which in turn moves the distributor 61 to the left. The move ment of the distributor 61 from right to left and left to right to distribute the strand 31 on the left reel 12 will actuate the limit switch 72. However, the actuation of the limit switch 72 will have no effect on the circuit or the solenoid 186 since the relay 179 is not energized at that time. When the distributor 61 hits the limit switch 71, it will actuate the solenoid 145 to direct fluid to the cylinder 63 associated with the distributor 61 to move the same to the right. The distributor 61 moves to actu ate the limit switch 73 which in turn actuates the solenoid 142 which directs fiuid to the cylinder 63 associated with the distributor 61 to move the distributor 61 to the left, which sequence is repeated until the indexing operation from the left reel 12 to the right reel 11 takes place.

The cutover cycle is automatically commenced by the counter 34 when a predetermined length of strand 31 is wound upon the left reel 12 which in this particular case is 1000 feet less than a final desired amount. The counter 84 closes the contact 154, which causes the relay 155 to be energized which closes the contacts 156, 157 and 158 associated therewith. The closure of the contact 156 will hold the relay 155 energized. The closure of the contact 157 associated with the relay 155 will cause the relay 147 to be energized. When the relay 147 is energized, it will open the contacts 151 and 152 and'close the contacts 143 and 153 which will cause the clutch 51 associated with the right reel 11 to be energized since it was assumed that the guard door 101 was positioned in the center position and in turn .thecontact 132 was closed and the contact 109 was open. At this time both the left reel 12 and right reel 11 will be driven by the motor 54 through the respective clutches 52 and 51.

At a later predetermined time the counter 84 closes the contact 164 which causes the relay 165 to be energized which will close the contact 166 to hold the relay 165 energized and open the contacts 167 and 168. The opening of the contact 168 will cause the relay 159 to be deenergized which in turn will operate the .contacts 16%, 161, 162 and 163 associated therewith. The contact 162 will open to deenergize the magnetic clutch 52 associated with the left reel 12. This causes the ,left .reel 12 to drift resulting in a surplus amount of the strand 31 which will .be' taken up by the accumulator 91. When the sheaves 92--92 on the accumulator 91'reach a predetermined position, the limit switch 127, which will cause the relays'171 and 172 to be energized, will be; actuated.

Energization of the relay 171 will close the contact'173 to hold the relays 171 and 172 energized. The closure of the contact 174 will energize thered light 108 in the warning circuit tonotify the operator that the cutover is to take placeor has taken place and also energizes the relay 175 to close the contact 176 associated therewith to hold the relay 175 energized until such time as the reset contact 177 is opened by the operator, when he replaces an empty reel 12 for the full reel 12. Closure of the contact 17%, upon energization of the relay 171, will cause the solenoid 138 to be energized and will cause the relay 139 to be energized which in turn will open contacts 204, 265 and 208 and close contacts 263, 266 and 2137. The opening of the contact 208 will deenergize a portionof the control circuit and deenergize the relays 165, 171 and 172.

The energization of the solenoid 13S actuates the rapidtransfer, spring-centered valve 187 which directs fluid to the cylinder 63 associated with the distributor 61 to index the distributor 61 to the right reel 11. T he closure of the contact 203 will hold the relay 139'andthe solenoid 138 energized. The closure of the contact 206 will hold the solenoid 142 energized. The closure of the contact 207 energizes a timing relay 209 after a predetermined interval when the contact 195 is closed subsequently when the switch 86 is actuated by the movement of the distributor 61 to deenergize the relay 191 which closes a contact 21% to energize the brake 65 associated with the left reel 12. This is possible because the contact 161 was closed when the relay 159 was previously deenergized.

When the distributor 61 has moved to a position at the midpoint between the right reel 11 and the left reel 12, the limit switch is actuated to deenergize the relay 191 and energize the relay 135. When the relay 151 is deenergized the contacts 192 and 193 associated therewith are opened and the contacts 1% and 195 are closed. When the relay is energized, the contacts 146 and 170 associated therewith are closed and the contacts 136 and 150 are opened.

As the distributor 61 is moved to the right, the limit switches 73 and '74 are actuated but have no effect on the circuit since the solenoid .142 was energized by the closure of the contact 266.

When the distributor 61 has moved to the right to strike the limit switch 75, the relay.139 is deenergized and at the same time the solenoid 13% is deenergized which in turn stops the indexing of the distributor 61 to the right by stopping the flow of fluid through the valve 137 to the cylinder 63. The distributor 61 is directed to the left by the fluid being directed to the cylinder 63 from the valve which was actuated by the solenoid 142 when the solenoid 142 was energized bythe closure of the contact 206. When the distributor 6 1 strikes the limit switch 74, the solenoid is energized to actuate the valve 141) to direct fluid to the cylinder 63 which in turn moves the distributor 61 to the right to alternatelyactuate the limit switches 76 and 74, and thus distribute the strand 31 back and forth on the right reel 11.

The various steps of the procedure are then repeated.

It is to be understood that the aboveadescribed arrangements vare simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may bereadily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof. a

What is claimed is:

l. A continuous strand reeling apparatus comprising a plurality of reels for receiving a strand, means to supply said strand, means connected operatively to each of said reels for gripping a portion of the strand adjacent to each reel when the strand is transferred from one reel to the other, a source .of power, a clutch operable to connect each of said reels to said power source, a counter system actuated by said strand being fed to one of'the said reels, means controlled by said counter system to operate each of said clutches in a predetermined sequence, a brake means connected operatively to each of said reels, means controlled by said counter system for operating both reels simultaneously prior to one reel receiving a desired amount of strand, means to disengage the clutch associated with the partially filled reel while the clutch associated with the empty reel is engaged, a distributor to guide the strand onto either reel, means to index the distributor from one reel to the other, accumulator means for preventing slack from accumulating in the strand, means controlled by said accumulator means to control the speed of the empty reel proportionally to the relative length of the strand between the supply of said strand and the reel onto which the strand is being reeled, means controlled by said accumulator means for controlling said indexing means for causing said distributor to index to a position for guiding the strand onto an empty reel, and means controlled by said distributor for engaging the brake associated with the filled reel when the reel has received the desired amount of strand whereby slack is substantially instantaneously formed in the portion of the strand between the full reel and the empty reel for preventing excessive stresses from being placed on the strand when the strand is directed to the empty reel by the distributor.

2. A continuous strand reeling apparatus comprising a plurality of reels for receiving a strand, means to supply said strand, means connected operatively to each of said reels for gripping a portion of the strand adjacent to each reel when the strand is transferred from one reel to the other, a source of power, a clutch operable to connect each of said reels to said power source, a counter system actuated by said strand being fed to one of the said reels, means controlled by said counter system to operate each of said clutches in a predetermined sequence, a brake means connected operatively to each of said reels, means controlled by said counter system for operating both reels simultaneously prior to one reel receiving a desired amount of strand, means for causing the partially filled reel to drift, a distributor to guide the strand onto either reel, means to index the distributor from one reel to the other, accumulator means for preventing slack from accumulating in the strand, means controlled by said accumulator means to control the speed of the empty reel proportionally to the relative length of the strand between the supply of said strand and the reel onto which the, strand is being reeled, means controlled by said accumulator means for controlling said indexing means for. causing said distributor to index to a position for guiding the strand onto an empty reel, and means controlled by said distributor for engaging the brake associated with the filled reel when the reel has received the desired amount of strand whereby slack is substantially instantaneously formed in the portion of the strand be tween the full reel and the empty reel for preventing excessive stresses from being placed on the strand when the strand is directed to the empty reel by the distributor.

. 3. A continuous strand reeling apparatus comprising a plurality of reels for receiving a strand, means to supply said strand, means connected operatively to each of said reels for gripping a portion of the strand adjacent to each reel when the strand is transferred from one reel to the other, a source of power, aclutch operable to connect each of said reels to said power source, a counter system actuated by said strand being fed to one of the said reels, means controlled by said counter system to operate each of said clutches in a predetermined sequence, a brake means connected operatively to each of said reels, means controlled by said counter system foroperating both reels simultaneously prior to one reel receiving a desired amount of strand, means to disengage the clutch associated with the partially filled reel while the clutch associated with the empty reel is engaged, a distributor to guide the strand onto either reel, means to index the distributor from one reel to the other, accumulator means for preventing slack from accumulating in the strand, means controlled by said accumulator means to control the speed of the empty reel proportionally to the relative length of the strand between the supply of said strand and the reel onto which the strand is being reeled, and means controlled by said distributor for engaging the brake associated with the filled reel when the reel has received the desired amount of strand whereby slack is substantially instantaneously formed in the portion of the strand between the full reel and the empty reel for preventing excessive stresses from being placed on the strand when the strand is directed to the empty reel by the distributor.

4. A continuous strand reeling apparatus comprising a plurality of reels for receiving a strand, means to supply said strand, means connected operatively to each of said reels for gripping a portion of the strand adjacent to each reel when the strand is transferred from one reel to the other, a source of power, a clutch operable to connect each of said reels to said power source, a counter system actuated by said strand being fed to one of the said reels, means controlled by said counter system to operate each of said clutches in a predetermined sequence, means controlled by'said counter system for operating both reels simultaneously prior to one reel receiving a desired amount of strand, means to disengage the clutch associated with the partially filled reel while the clutch associated with the empty reel is engaged, a

distributor to guide the strand onto either reel, accumulator means for preventing slack from accumulating in the strand, means controlled by said accumulator means to control the speed of the empty reel proportionally to the relative length of the strand between the supply of said strand and the reel onto which the strand is being reeled, and means for causing said distributor to index to a position for guiding the strand onto an empty reel whereby the strand is directed to the empty reel by the distributor.

5. A continuous strand reeling apparatus comprising a plurality of reels for receiving a strand, means to supply said strand, means connected operatively to each of said reels for gripping a portion of the strand adjacent to each reel when the strand is transferred from one reel to-the other, a source of power, a clutch operable to connect each of said reels to said power source, a counter system actuated by said strand being fed to one of the said reels, means controlled by said counter system to operate each of said clutches in a predetermined sequence, means controlled by said counter system for operating both reels simultaneously prior to one reel receiving a desired amount of strand, means to disengage the clutch associated with the partially filled reel while the clutch associated with the empty reel is engaged, a distributor to guide thestrand onto either reel, means to index the distributor from one reel to the other, ac

mulator means for preventing slack from accumulating in the strand, means controlled by said accumulator means to control the speed of the empty reel proportionally to the relative length of the strand between the supply of said strand and the reel onto which the strand is being reeled, and means controlled by said accumulator means-for controlling said indexing means for causing said distributor to index to a position for guiding the strand onto an empty reel.

6. A continuous strand reeling apparatus comprising a plurality of reels for receiving a strand, means to supply said strand, means connected operatively to each of said means controlled by'said counter 'system'to operate-each of said clutches ina predetermined sequence, a brake means connected operatively to each of said reels, means controlled by said counter system for operating both reels simultaneously prior to one reel receiving a desired amount of strand, means to disengage the clutch associated with the partially filled reel while the clutch associated with the empty reel is engaged, a distributor to guide the strand onto either reel, accumulator means for preventing slack from accumulating in the strand, means controlled by said accumulator means to control the speed of the empty reel proportionally to the relative length of the strand between the supply of said strand and the reel onto which the strand is being reeled, means for causing said distributor to index to a position for guiding the strand onto an empty reel when the peripheral speed of the winding surface of said empty reel is a portion of the speed of the strand being delivered thereto, and means controlled by said distributor for engaging the brake associated with the filled reel when the reel has received the desired amount of strand whereby slack is substantially instantaneously formed in the portion of the strand between the full reel and the empty reel for preventing excessive stresses from being placed on the strand when the strand is directed to the empty reel by the distributor.

7. A continuous strand reeling apparatus comprising a plurality of reels for receiving a strand, means to supply said strand, means connected operatively to each of said reels for gripping a portion of the strand adjacent to each reel when the strand is transferred from one reel to the other, a-source of power, a clutch operable to connect each of said reels to said power source, a counter system actuated by said strand being fed to one of the said reels, means controlled by said counter system to operate each of said clutches in a predetermined sequence, a brake means connected operatively to each of said reels, means controlled by said counter system for operating both reels simultaneously prior to one reel receiving a desired amount of strand, means to disengage the clutch associated with the partially filled reel while the clutch associated with the empty reel is engaged for causing the partially filled reel to drift, a distributor to guide the strand onto either reel, means to index the distributor from one reel to the other, accumulator means for preventing slack trom accumulating in the strand, means controlled by said accumulator means to control the speed of the empty reel proportionally to the relative length of the strand between the supply of said strand and the reelonto which the strand is being reeled, means controlledby said' accumulator-means for controlling said indexing means for causing said distributor to index to a position for guiding the strand onto an empty reel, and means controlled by said distributor for engaging the brake associated with the filled reel when the reel has received the desired amount of strand whereby slack is substantially instantaneously formed in the portion of the strand between the full reel and the empty reel forpreventing excessive stresses from being placed on the strandwhen the strand is directed to the empty reel by the distributor.

8. Apparatus for reeling strand material, which comprises a plurality of reels, means for rotating said reels, counter means for measuring the length of strand material being directed toward said reels, means controlled by .said counter means for operating said rotating means for rotating said reels in a predetermined sequence, accumulator means for preventing slack from forming in a portion of the strand material and controlling the speed of an empty reel during the cutover cycle, and braking means for braking a full reel during a cutover cycle for 12 providing slack in the strand material during the cutover cycle.

9. Apparatus for reeling strand material, which com-- prises a plurality of reels, means for rotating said reels,

' means for operating said rotating means for rotating said reels in a predetermined sequence, accumulator means for preventing slack from forming in a portion of the strand material and for controlling the speed of one reel While the strand material is being supplied to another reel, and braking means for stopping the other reel in order to provide slack in the strand during a cutover operation.

10. Apparatus for reeling strand materiahwhich comprises a plurality of reels, means for rotating said reels comprising a single motor and plurality of clutches, one

of said clutches being associated with each of said reels, 1

means for actuating said clutches in a predetermined sequence, so that a partially filled reel is allowed to coast during a portion of the time in which the strand is being fed thereto and an empty reel is being driven prior to a cutover operation, accumulator means for preventing slack from forming in a portion of the strand material and for controlling the speed of onereel while the strand material is being supplied to another reel, and braking means associated with each reel for providing slack in the strand material necessary for the cutover operation.

11. Apparatus for reeling strand continuously on a plurality of reels in a sequential order, which comprises a plurality of reels,'means for supplying the strand, means for rotating a first of said reels to reel the strand onto said first reel, means for rotating a second of said reels,

means for allowing said first reel to coast while reeling the strand; thereon prior to a transfer of the strand from said first reel to said second reel, means for varying the length of the path of travel of the strand between the supply thereof and said first reel in an amount proportional to the change of the speed of the first reel, and means for controlling the speed of the said second reel in response to the variation in the length of the path of travel of the strand between the supply thereof and said first reel.

12. Apparatus for reeling strand continuously on a plurality of reels in a'sequential order, which comprises a plurality of reels,'rneans for supplying the strand, means for rotating a first of said reels to reel the strand onto said first reel, means for rotating a second of said reels, means for allowing said first reel to coast while reeling the strand thereon prior to a transfer of the strand from said first reel to said second reel, and means for controlling the speed of rotation of said second reel in proportion to the difference in linear speed at which the strand is being supplied and the linear speed at which the V strand is being reeled on said first reel.

13'. Apparatus for reeling strand material on a plurality of reels in sequential order, which comprises a plurality of reels, means for supplying the strand to said reels, means for rotating a first of said reels to reel strand onto said first reel, means for rotating a second of said reels, means for transferring thestrand to said second reel, and means for simultaneously stopping said first reel in response to the transfer of the strand to said second reel for preventing damaging effects of the end of the strand resulting from the rotation of said first reel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,393,286 Hosford Oct. 11, 1921 2,585,994 Boynton Feb. 19, 1952 2,779,545 Hauck et al. Jan. 29, 1957 

